Ride Quality?

TallSkinnyMatt · 06-20-2011, 01:32 AM

How bad would the ride quality be going from a 17'' wheel to a 19'' wheel? I am thinking about getting some 19'' csl reps, but i've heard the ride can be pretty bad. Anyone have experience with this?

nightrunner20 · 06-20-2011, 01:52 AM

Ride quality is mostly affected by suspension. Wheels should not make a significant amount of diffrence with ride quality. Unless its really LOW profile tires. But im not too sure. 19's are pretty big. I have 18's on sport springs. I miss my smooth stock ride no doubt.

carcus · 06-20-2011, 02:13 AM

I had a 2004 with ZSP 17" went to 19"....all depends on the roads. Will make the car a bit slower but since it is not a drag car...you will not notice.

Main factor is check the roads where you live for potholes. I could have went 19" with my 911...but after having 19" on my E46...decided to go 18"......easier on the pot holes, cheaper on tires, and main thing...if you get a blow out on a 19 inch....unless you are in a big city...you might have to wait to get one. Think about that. Yes...19" do look nicer, but they are more expensive.

17" M3 reps on my old E46: (SPORT SUSPENSION ZSP...ON BOTH PICS)

19" rims on the same car...same OEM ZSP springs...

Old 17" light weight Porsche 911 rims:

Current 18" rims....no drop on the 911....:

Just some pics to ponder.....and all of the pics are old. E46 is gone and the 911 is different now.

carcus · 06-20-2011, 02:17 AM

Damn....miss my old E46. But....either a 8 series or 2002 Tii will make me happy....looking for a nice early BMW 2002 to work on with my son....hard to find one without rust.

Oh yea...I never had any of these cars and they are pics from different garages in different houses.....LOL.

josephi · 06-20-2011, 05:02 AM

Here's an article from C&D about changing wheel and tire sizes. Sounds like some things to consider. Car & Driver article

Andy2108 · 06-20-2011, 05:09 AM

Just get 18" wheels. Its not a show car.

You're lucky, you got an intelligent response from carcass.

TallSkinnyMatt · 06-20-2011, 11:26 AM

No I know the 18's would be more practical, I just don't want to go ahead and spend hundreds of dollars on 18's only to be always thinking about how nice the 19's would look. I think the only way for me to decide is to see them both in person and decide.

nightrunner20 · 06-20-2011, 11:36 PM

heres my 18 inch staggered v710's I didn't wanna go with 19's their too big IMO and it makes pot holes a VERY scary thing where I live at

TallSkinnyMatt · 06-20-2011, 11:49 PM

Wow the v710's look amazing in 18's. I am actually contemplating on getting them. From what I have seen from the CSL reps, the 18's look great with a drop. When stock suspension they look a little small... Not sure yet. Have yet to see them in real life. I know pictures don't do justice. So we shall see. I'm not terribly worried about potholes and such... and may sacrifice a little comfort for the extra looks. But if I get the v710's i'm definitely getting 18's.

06-20-2011, 01:32 AM	#1
TallSkinnyMatt Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,168 My Ride: 330ci, 135i View My Garage	Ride Quality? How bad would the ride quality be going from a 17'' wheel to a 19'' wheel? I am thinking about getting some 19'' csl reps, but i've heard the ride can be pretty bad. Anyone have experience with this? __________________ My Progress Thread

06-20-2011, 01:52 AM	#2
nightrunner20 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,012 My Ride: will eat your dust View My Garage	Ride quality is mostly affected by suspension. Wheels should not make a significant amount of diffrence with ride quality. Unless its really LOW profile tires. But im not too sure. 19's are pretty big. I have 18's on sport springs. I miss my smooth stock ride no doubt. __________________ Last edited by nightrunner20; 06-20-2011 at 01:55 AM.

06-20-2011, 02:13 AM	#3
carcus Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mountain Roads Posts: 5,344 My Ride: Porsche 911 View My Garage	I had a 2004 with ZSP 17" went to 19"....all depends on the roads. Will make the car a bit slower but since it is not a drag car...you will not notice. Main factor is check the roads where you live for potholes. I could have went 19" with my 911...but after having 19" on my E46...decided to go 18"......easier on the pot holes, cheaper on tires, and main thing...if you get a blow out on a 19 inch....unless you are in a big city...you might have to wait to get one. Think about that. Yes...19" do look nicer, but they are more expensive. 17" M3 reps on my old E46: (SPORT SUSPENSION ZSP...ON BOTH PICS) 19" rims on the same car...same OEM ZSP springs... Old 17" light weight Porsche 911 rims: Current 18" rims....no drop on the 911....: Just some pics to ponder.....and all of the pics are old. E46 is gone and the 911 is different now. __________________ BMW Fanatic, Porsche 996..., SCCA XC. Light mods/Fabspeed...restored 2002 coming soon. Last edited by carcus; 06-20-2011 at 02:14 AM.

06-20-2011, 02:17 AM	#4
carcus Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mountain Roads Posts: 5,344 My Ride: Porsche 911 View My Garage	Damn....miss my old E46. But....either a 8 series or 2002 Tii will make me happy....looking for a nice early BMW 2002 to work on with my son....hard to find one without rust. Oh yea...I never had any of these cars and they are pics from different garages in different houses.....LOL. __________________ BMW Fanatic, Porsche 996..., SCCA XC. Light mods/Fabspeed...restored 2002 coming soon. Last edited by carcus; 06-20-2011 at 02:18 AM.

06-20-2011, 05:09 AM	#6
Andy2108 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 7,871 My Ride: E46M3E92M3'67Cobra View My Garage	Just get 18" wheels. Its not a show car. You're lucky, you got an intelligent response from carcass. __________________ De gustibus non est disputandum.

06-20-2011, 05:02 AM	#5
josephi Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pair O' Dice, USA Posts: 574 My Ride: '02 330i View My Garage	Here's an article from C&D about changing wheel and tire sizes. Sounds like some things to consider. Car & Driver article

06-20-2011, 11:26 AM	#7
TallSkinnyMatt Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,168 My Ride: 330ci, 135i View My Garage	No I know the 18's would be more practical, I just don't want to go ahead and spend hundreds of dollars on 18's only to be always thinking about how nice the 19's would look. I think the only way for me to decide is to see them both in person and decide. __________________ My Progress Thread

06-20-2011, 11:36 PM	#8
nightrunner20 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,012 My Ride: will eat your dust View My Garage	heres my 18 inch staggered v710's I didn't wanna go with 19's their too big IMO and it makes pot holes a VERY scary thing where I live at __________________ Last edited by nightrunner20; 06-20-2011 at 11:37 PM.

06-20-2011, 11:49 PM	#9
TallSkinnyMatt Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,168 My Ride: 330ci, 135i View My Garage	Wow the v710's look amazing in 18's. I am actually contemplating on getting them. From what I have seen from the CSL reps, the 18's look great with a drop. When stock suspension they look a little small... Not sure yet. Have yet to see them in real life. I know pictures don't do justice. So we shall see. I'm not terribly worried about potholes and such... and may sacrifice a little comfort for the extra looks. But if I get the v710's i'm definitely getting 18's. __________________ My Progress Thread

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